The assessment of athletic performance using non-invasive methods has been a significant focus in research aimed at measuring physiological parameters. This study explores the application of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) among track and field athletes, with a focus on sex differences, electrode configuration, and the correlation between BIVA parameters and jump performances. This cross-sectional study involved 61 Italian track and field athletes: 31 females and 30 males (age: 21.4 ± 3.8; 21.1 ± 2.6 years; stature: 166.1 ± 6.1; 180.1 ± 5.0 cm; body mass: 57.4 ± 9.7; 72.5 ± 10.5 kg, respectively). Anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and athletic jump performance were conducted. The RXc graph, two-sample Hotelling\'s T2 test for BIVA, and one-way ANOVA for specialty comparisons were employed. Pearson and Spearman\'s tests evaluated the correlations between BIVA parameters and jump performance. Differences in bioimpedance values were observed between athlete groups. Lateral asymmetries were more pronounced in females. Correlations between BIVA and jump performance also varied by sex and electrode configuration, ranging from r = -0.072, p = 0.699-r = 0.555, p = 0.001 in females, and from r = 0.204, p = 0.281-r = 0.691, p = 0.001 in males. This study highlights the utility of BIVA in providing rapid and non-invasive assessments of body composition and its relationship with jump performance, considering variations in athlete sex and electrode configuration.

The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate football players\' recovery status, through hormonal response, in relation to accumulated workload at two comparable time points of the first (T1) and second half (T2) of the competitive season. Moreover, this study investigated athletes\' hormonal response to a typical weekly conditioning session (5 days before match: MD-5), at T1 and T2, to detect changes in players\' recovery capability over time. Salivary cortisol (sC) and testosterone (sT) of 24 professional players (27.8 ± 4.1 years of age) were collected before, after, and 24 hours following MD-5 in two comparable microcycles of T1 and T2. GPS training data (total and high-intensity distance) of the 7 and 28 days before sampling were used to obtain athletes\' acute and chronic workloads. Results showed a pre-training significant decrease of sT and an increase of sC (p<0.05) in T2, compared to T1. Moreover, athletes showed high sC and low sT levels before, after and 24 hours following MD-5 in T2. Workload analysis revealed significant correlations of chronic load with sC (r = 0.45, p = 0.056) and T/C ratio (r = -0.59; p = 0.007). These results suggested that, in professional football, chronic workload has a greater impact on players\' recovery time than acute workload over the sport season. Moreover, athletes\' hormonal response to the weekly conditioning session at T2 revealed an altered anabolic/catabolic balance, highlighting the key role of continuous internal and external workload monitoring during the season.

This study aimed to determine the physical performance profile (ability to change direction, vertical and horizontal jump, sprint ability, and dribbling-specific skills) of the first women football players with cerebral palsy (CP) who participated in an international CP football competition, accounting for their sport classes. We also examined the relationships between the different physical performance variables. Forty-five female players with CP (24.9 ± 7.5 years) were categorised into three sport classes based on their impairment severity: 19 were FT1 (severe impairments); 21 FT2; and 5 FT3 (mild impairments). Various physical performance tests were conducted, including the 505 change of direction test; vertical and horizontal jumps; 10 m sprint test; and the dribbling speed test. Significant correlations were observed between the change of direction ability, sprint (r = 0.89; p < 0.01), and dribbling tests (r = 0.71; p < 0.01), as well as between horizontal jump and sprint time (r =  - 0.74; p < 0.01). FT1 players demonstrated poorer performance compared to FT3 in the 505 test and standing broad jump (p < 0.05; dg = -1.79 and 1.22 respectively), but also lower vertical jump heights (p < 0.05; dg = -0.91 to -1.57) and increased time required for sprint (p < 0.05; dg = 0.88 to 1.16) and dribbling tests (p < 0.05; dg = 0.85 to 1.44) compared to both FT2 and FT3 players. These findings offer valuable insights into the physical performance characteristics of female footballers with CP, which can guide training and sport enhancement programs for this unique para-sport population.

UNASSIGNED: Caffeine is one of the most popular ergogenic aids consumed by athletes. Caffeine\'s ergogenic effect has been generally explained by its ability to bind to adenosine receptors, thus modulating pain and reducing perceived exertion. Another pharmacological agent that may improve performance due to its analgesic proprieties is paracetamol. This study aimed to explore the effects of caffeine, paracetamol, and caffeine + paracetamol consumption on muscular endurance, strength, power, anaerobic endurance, and jumping performance.
UNASSIGNED: In this randomized, crossover, double-blind study, 29 resistance-trained participants (11 men and 18 women) ingested either a placebo, caffeine (3 mg/kg), paracetamol (1500 mg) or caffeine + paracetamol 45 min before the testing sessions. The testing sessions included performing the bench press exercise with 75% of one-repetition maximum to momentary muscular failure, isokinetic knee extension and flexion at angular velocities of 60°/sec and 180°/sec, Wingate, and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests.
UNASSIGNED: Compared to placebo, isolated caffeine ingestion increased the number of repetitions performed in the bench press (p = 0.005; d = 0.42). Compared to placebo, isolated caffeine ingestion and/or caffeine + paracetamol consumption was ergogenic for strength (torque), muscular endurance (total work), or power in the isokinetic assessment, particularly at slower angular velocities (p = 0.027 to 0.002; d = 0.16 to 0.26). No significant differences between the conditions were observed for outcomes related to the Wingate and CMJ tests.
UNASSIGNED: This study provided novel evidence into the effectiveness of caffeine, paracetamol, and their combination on exercise performance. We found improvements in muscular endurance, strength, or power only when caffeine was consumed in isolation, or in combination with paracetamol. Isolated paracetamol consumption did not improve performance for any of the analyzed outcomes, thus calling into question its ergogenic potential.

The majority of participants in Ironman triathlon races are age group athletes. We have extensive knowledge about recreational athletes\' training and competition participation. Nonetheless, Ironman age group triathletes must achieve fast race times to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. They can, therefore, benefit from knowing where the fastest Ironman racecourses in the world are. The aim of the present study was to investigate where the fastest Ironman racecourses for age group triathletes are located in the world. Data from 677,702 Ironman age group finishers\' records (544,963 from men and 132,739 from women) originating from 228 countries and participating in 444 events across 66 different Ironman race locations between 2002 and 2022 were analyzed. Data was analyzed through traditional descriptive statistics and with machine learning regression models. Four algorithms were tested (Random Forest Regressor, XG Boost Regressor, Cat Boot Regressor, and Decision Tree Regressor). The models used gender, age group, country of origin, environmental factors (average air and water temperatures), and the event location as independent variables to predict the final overall race time. Despite the majority of successful Ironman age group triathletes originating from the USA (274,553), followed by athletes from the United Kingdom (55,410) and Canada (38,264), these countries exhibited average overall race times that were significantly slower compared to the fastest countries. Most of the triathletes competed in Ironman Wisconsin (38,545), followed by Ironman Florida (38,157) and Ironman Lake Placid (34,341). The fastest overall race times were achieved in Ironman Copenhagen (11.68 ± 1.38 h), followed by Ironman Hawaii (11.72 ± 1.86 h), Ironman Barcelona (11.78 ± 1.43 h), Ironman Florianópolis (11.80 ± 1.52 h), Ironman Frankfurt (12.03 ± 1.38 h) and Ironman Kalmar (12.08 ± 1.47 h). The fastest athletes originated from Belgium (11.48 ± 1.47 h), followed by athletes from Denmark (11.59 ± 1.40 h), Switzerland (11.62 ± 1.49 h), Austria (11.68 ± 1.50), Finland (11.68 ± 1.40 h) and Germany (11.74 ± 15.1 h). Flat running and cycling courses were associated with faster overall race times. Three of the predictive models identified the \'country\' and \'age group\' variables as the most important predictors. Environmental characteristics showed the lowest influence regarding the other variables. The origin of the athlete was the most predictive variable whereas environmental characteristics showed the lowest influence. Flat cycling and flat running courses were associated with faster overall race times. The fastest overall race times were achieved mainly in European races such as Ironman Copenhagen, Ironman Hawaii, Ironman Barcelona, Ironman Florianópolis, Ironman Frankfurt and Ironman Kalmar. The fastest triathletes originated from European countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, and Germany.

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We investigated the effect of repeated sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) on subjective and objective measures of recovery, cognitive and sport-specific performance in professional soccer players following a soccer match simulation (SMS). Sixteen soccer players participated in this randomized, crossover, and sham-controlled study. They completed baseline assessments of well-being, total quality recovery (TQR), electromyographic activity (EMG) of the thigh muscles, countermovement jump (CMJ), and cognitive and Loughborough soccer passing test (LSPT) skills. Then, the participants engaged in an SMS routine (2 × 45 min, 15-min intervals). There was no significant difference in rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during the SMS in the anodal (17.25 ± 0.85) and sham (16.93 ± 0.92) conditions (p = 0.19). Following the SMS, the participants were randomized to receive three sessions of a-tDCS (2 mA, 20 min, +F3/-F4) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or sham immediately after, 24 h, and 48 h after the SMS. Finally, the same outcome measures were evaluated 24 and 48 h following the SMS. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed that a-tDCS stimulation improved passing skills (decreased time to perform the LSPT and number of errors; all ps < 0.01; d = 0.56-2.9) and increased the feeling of well-being (p = 0.02; d = 2.8), with no effect on TQR, cognitive performance, CMJ performance, and EMG. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate, for the first time, that repeated a-tDCS could be used as an adjunct method to accelerate soccer players\' well-being and technical performance recovery, particularly after congested matches and/or training sessions. These findings may also be applicable to other team sports with characteristics similar to soccer (e.g., futsal, handball, basketball, etc.).